Planter.



G. H. DOOLBY.

PLANTEB.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, 1910.

Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO., PHOTO-LITHO-l WASHINGTON, D. C

C. H. DOOLEY.

PLANTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, 1910.

Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHBET 2.

:Z'JEQ, Z1

UNITED s'rnrnis Parana enrich.

CLARENCE H. DOOLEY, OF ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS.

PLANTER.

Application filed March 24, 1910.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE H. DooLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rock Island, in the county of Rock Island and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Planters, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in check row planters, more particularly to the device which is used for releasing the check wire when desired, as for instance when turning a row.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a part of a planter mechanism suflicient to illustrate the manner of applying the improvements thereto. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the check head on the left side of the machine. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-8 in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the check head showing the parts in the positions occupied when the wire is dofied; and Fig. 5 shows the catch operating foot lever in side and end elevation.

In the drawings I have shown some of the parts of a planter so that the device to which the present invention relates can be readily understood.

A represents the rear or wheel frame and Bv the front or runner frame.

1 is the axle and 2 the ground wheels which are secured thereto and rotate therewith. r

The frame bars CC of the rear frame are hinged to the runner frame in the usual or any preferred way. I

The runner frame comprises the front transverse bar 5, the rear. transverse bar 6 connecting bars 7 and 8, and other parts such as indicated or such as may be, desired.

. The connecting bars 7 and 8 of the runner frame are shown as joined to the bars CG of the rear frame or ground wheel frame. About the hinges that unite these elements the adjacent parts of the main frame and the runner can be raised or lowered, as is frequently done in the use of the machine, to pass obstructions to travel to, and from the field and to turn at the ends of the rows. a

Uponlthefront frame are located the seeding mechanisms indicated 9, 9. Outside of theseeding mechanism and at the ends, respectively, of the runner frame are ar- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

Serial No. 551,237.

ranged the check heads. Each of these comprise a fixed element (11), which is secured to the frame and a movable element (12), which is hinged on a horizontal axis, and which can be thrown down to release the wire. Inasmuch as these parts can be constructed in any of many suitable ways it is not necessary to describe them in detail, as those acquainted with the manufacture and the use of machines of this class will readily understand that the said invention can be applied to many of them.

The hinged element is held in position by a lock having the part 13 and a movable spring held part 14 adapted to engage therewith. -Heretofore it has been customary to extend from the movable part of the catch a cord to some point within reach of the driven while in his seat, the cords drooping diagonally acrossthe machine. These are objectionable in that they present obstruc tions, and are liable to become entangled with one part or another of the machine.

In some instances use has been made of links and levers, which could be operated by the driver.

The object of the present invention is to simplify this part of the machine and provide a device which can be compactly arranged and which is not liable to be caught and accidentally detach the check wire.

15 is a wire cord or cable extending from one of the catch elements 13 to the other, across the machine.

16 is a rocking head having two eyes,

through which the cord 15 passes, one of these eyes being above the other and the line between them being preferably somewhat inclined. This rocking head is carried by a rock shaft 17, mounted on a frame bar and provided with a pedal 18 within easy reach of the drivers foot while he is in the seat.

YVhen he desires to trip the check wire he is merely, required to place his foot on the pedal and cause the rocking shaft and head to exert strain inward on both of the check catches. He is relieved from the necessity of using his hands for this purpose when turning at the end of the rows, these being left free for controlling the team.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a planter with devices which in number shall be few and in character be simple for the purpose of tripping the catches of the check heads, when desired, and which will not be liable to cause their unintended tripping at times when such adjustments, as aforesaid, of the main frame and the runner frame are made relatively to each other. Heretofore use has generally been made ,ofcords or ropes as the principal elements in the catch tripping devices on planters.

The driver rides upon a support which is carried by the rear or main frame. The check heads and their attachments are carried by the runner frame. It is desirable that the driver should be able, while seated on the rear frame, to manipulate the movable parts of the check heads when he desires to drop the check row wire. For the driver to get access, while he is in his seat, to whatever transmitter is provided, it becomesnecessary to support part of the train of transmitting devices upon the main frame, and the other part upon the front frame.

'These frequentmovements of the frames relatively to each other have, in earlier mechanisms, prompted the use of flexible cables or cords. These have been extended either directly, or through a broken path, from the latch of the check head to some attacking point on the main frame near the drivers seat. v Some times the cord has been carried upward from the check head, at an angle to the horizontal, and backward to or towardthe seat. Near the latter it was attached to some part of the framework, or to a lever. I

The flexibility incident to a cord was required in order to permit sufficient slack therein to allow for the vertical movements of the frames. For if the power transmitit ting train be taut (from the check head end to the end at the seat) there is liability, when the angular relation of the frames is modified, of exerting tensionon the cords, releasing the latch and throwing the check wire out from the head. The samedifiiculties have, in some cases, prompted the use of long hand-levers extending a from the front part of the runner frame upward or backward to or toward the drivers seat.

' .Transmitters of either of these sorts, cords orlong levers, projecting upward and backward, are serlous impediments for the drlver 1n respect to h1s easy and quick access to ,hisseat and to hismoving away therefrom.

Hence I have provided devices which lie in low horizontal planes, there being no obstaclein the path of the driver whether moving to or. from hisseat. It is merely necessary for him to move one foot, or the i other, a short distance, to effect thedoffing,

his hands, and the upper part of the region through which the team reins extend, being .entirely free for all necessary movements andv control. But such a short movement of his foot will not, reach the front runner frame And therefore it is necessary that the first device (the foot lever in the transmitting' train) be attached to or mounted on the main frame. Then provision must be made to prevent this frame, as it moves vertically, from varying the position of the part 16 in relation to the line normally occupied by the cable, that is the line extending from one latch to the other; for such variation of this part 16, even though reduced, tends to result in exerting a strain upon the latches, and provision must be made to prevent tension being exerted on the cord when the frames are moved vertically. In the construction shown I employ a single cord, extending integrally from one latch to the other, this cord passing loosely through the part 16 by which tripping power is communicated. The looseness of connection not only permits the cord to have a small amount of slackness, but also insures that any variations in the two sections of the cord (the sections which extend, respectively, from the part 16 to the latches) shall be compensated. That is to say, if one section, from any cause, becomes lengthened or shortened, the difference will be immediately equalized, as between the two sections, by reason of the looseness of the union between the cord and the eye parts of. the device 16.

When it is in 'its midway or inactive position the cord can distribute itself longitudinally, automatically, through the eyes. When the rock shaft 17 is rotated the .eyes

immediately clampthe inner parts of the cable sections, and, after taking up the slight amount of slack, immediately pull positively upon thecheck head latches. And this .pull is always maintained uniform, I so. that whether the tappet wire is upon one side of eyeparts of the device 16, the degree of rocking of this device, and the extentof slack the planter or upon the other side, the dofling'mechanism is ready for action. The

in, thecable are related properly to the;

quantity of angular movement between the two frames. v

What I claim is I W 1.111 a check-row planter, the combination of a front runner frame, a rear mam frame hinged to the front frame, a checkrower mechanism at each end of the runner frame, each check-rower having a hinged element and a catch, a single integral flexible cord or cable extending continuously from 1 therewith, the rocking head having two eyes through which the said cord passes normally loosely for self adjustment and adapted to exert tension on the two end sections of the cord when it is rocked by the treadle.

2. In a check-row planter, the combinationof a front runner frame, a rear main frame hmged thereto, a check-rower mechanism at each end of the main frame, each check-rower having a hinged element and a catch, a single integral flexible cord or cable extending continuously from one of the check-rower catches to the other and supported therewith upon the front runner frame, a rock shaft mounted on the rear main frame and swinging vertically therewith, and the head 16 on the rock shaft having two cord-engaging elements, the cord being adapted to adjust itself longitudinally in, and loosely engaging with, the said elements, and the latter being adapted to exert longitudinal tension on the end parts of the integral cord when rocked by the treadle.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

CLARENCE H. DOOLEY.

Witnesses GALE PORTER, RALPH B.- LOURIE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G." 

